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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:30 pm Post subject: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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My 1968 Karmann Ghia black California plate starts with VKN. Where was this plate issued? _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Nope. No results.
I’ve looked at a Samba post listing California cities where plates were issued. But did not go far enough to V. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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rcooled Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008 Posts: 2491 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Not sure if this is helpful or not, but the original CA blk/yel plates on my '67 Ghia, that also begin with the letter 'V', were most likely issued in Marin County, being that the car's first owner lived in Sausalito. There are only 2 DMV offices in the county...one in Corte Madera and one in Novato. _________________ '63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Actually it does help. I've always believed that it came from somewhere in the greater Bay Area. This begins to narrow it down. I drive through Marin County all the time. Been to both Corte Madera and Novato as well as Sausalito.
Still would like to know specifically where and what dealer. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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Felipe de España Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2012 Posts: 14 Location: So. Cal.
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Sir John(typed with complete honor towards you)Moxon, cool website but, found nothing on my California 64 Ghia black/gold plate starting with G** ***. Much like yourself Jere Being the second owner, knowing that the car was imported (into L.A.) by an American Airlines employee who flew international routes to Europe answered every question I had about my baby. Most don't have the benefit I have of being the second owner and knowing the first owner personally. |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Wow, that is so cool! I just wish that the DMV would be helpful, after all they must have records because of the VIN and plate number. I would just like to know who the VW dealer was that sold it. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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Felipe de España Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2012 Posts: 14 Location: So. Cal.
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:50 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Jere,
Furthermore, mine still has the old,(albeit crusty) license plate frame from
Aero Volkswagen Inglewood (found under Tech.Tab-Dealer Listings).
Just not sure if that's the location mine was imported to.
The original owner has since passed. I bought it back in 1983
for $1,500. Worth at least double or, triple that when I see some of the examples for sale here. |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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rcooled
Who would have been VW dealers in Marin County in July 1967? My 1968 Ghia was stamped 7/67 on the transmission tunnel. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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VeloMikey Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2012 Posts: 646 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Jere wrote: |
My 1968 Karmann Ghia black California plate starts with VKN. Where was this plate issued? |
If a car is bought from a dealer, the plates are issued from Sacramento and mailed to you. If you went into a field office, you got plates issued from that office. When California switched over from the YOM yellow with black characters to the black with yellow characters in 1963, the DMV mailed the plates out to every registered vehicle and you were supposed to swap them out. I registered my 57 bug in 1984 at the Glendale DMV office and got to choose between blue and yellow plates or the new at the time reflective white with blue letters. I chose one of the last pair of blue and yellow. I had a 65 Dodge Dart and the black and yellow plate was "ROP 422". The first plate issued in 1963 was probably "AAA 000" and took 8 or so years to get to "VKN" in 1968. There were substantially fewer cars (and people) in California back then!
1963 – earliest license plate that is still valid (the plates had a black background and chrome yellow characters).
1970 – standard plate changed to a blue background with yellow characters. Last year any black/yellow plates were issued.
1976 – year-round registration started, which requires a month expiration sticker affixed to the upper left hand corner of the plate.
1982 – standard plate changed to a white background with blue characters with a sun graphic and “California” in red block letters. Last year any blue/yellow plates were issued.
1987 – reflectorized plates with “California” in red block letters were issued. Sun graphic discontinued.
1991 – only reflectorized standard plates were issued.
1993 – the word “California” changed to red script. _________________ '58 Ghia 2387cc with a Berg / Folts 5 Speed
Ghia Build Thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768748 |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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VeloMikey wrote: |
Jere wrote: |
My 1968 Karmann Ghia black California plate starts with VKN. Where was this plate issued? |
If a car is bought from a dealer, the plates are issued from Sacramento and mailed to you. If you went into a field office, you got plates issued from that office. When California switched over from the YOM yellow with black characters to the black with yellow characters in 1963, the DMV mailed the plates out to every registered vehicle and you were supposed to swap them out. I registered my 57 bug in 1984 at the Glendale DMV office and got to choose between blue and yellow plates or the new at the time reflective white with blue letters. I chose one of the last pair of blue and yellow. I had a 65 Dodge Dart and the black and yellow plate was "ROP 422". The first plate issued in 1963 was probably "AAA 000" and took 8 or so years to get to "VKN" in 1968. There were substantially fewer cars (and people) in California back then!
1963 – earliest license plate that is still valid (the plates had a black background and chrome yellow characters).
1970 – standard plate changed to a blue background with yellow characters. Last year any black/yellow plates were issued.
1976 – year-round registration started, which requires a month expiration sticker affixed to the upper left hand corner of the plate.
1982 – standard plate changed to a white background with blue characters with a sun graphic and “California” in red block letters. Last year any blue/yellow plates were issued.
1987 – reflectorized plates with “California” in red block letters were issued. Sun graphic discontinued.
1991 – only reflectorized standard plates were issued.
1993 – the word “California” changed to red script. |
In 1977, I had a 68 Dodge Charger w/ 383 V8, Blk/Yellow Lic plate number was WVZ 626. Bought the car from my dad who purchased it new in Los Angeles, CA in 1968. Here is the DMV black plate list/DMV location list
_________________ GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Thank you John for the Dealer link! It was really helpful. Now I have a list of potential dealers around he greater Sacramento-San Francisco bay area.
VeloMikey - Thanks for the confirmation about Sacramento mailing out the plates.
C21darrel - Mine is definitely a 68, the first year of the one piece high back seat. And also the differences with the convertible top. And the VIN matches 1968 too. I meant to say, white paint on the side of the tunnel - 7/67. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:38 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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c21darrel - Thanks for the DMV list. I've seen this multiple times now. But for me it doesn't help because it ends with NTA-RDA, no VKN. Surely somewhere out there is information for VKN. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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VeloMikey wrote: |
If a car is bought from a dealer, the plates are issued from Sacramento and mailed to you. If you went into a field office, you got plates issued from that office. When California switched over from the YOM yellow with black characters to the black with yellow characters in 1963, the DMV mailed the plates out to every registered vehicle and you were supposed to swap them out. |
Not to derail the OG question why were the Yellow and Black plates on my '58 marked '56?
I wondering if Betty will remember where she ordered the car. She lived in Berkeley but commuted across the Bay Bridge to work. She just tells of the adventure of picking up the car from Osnabruck for her new car vacation.
_________________ John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10965
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:41 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Jere wrote: |
c21darrel - Thanks for the DMV list. I've seen this multiple times now. But for me it doesn't help because it ends with NTA-RDA, no VKN. Surely somewhere out there is information for VKN. |
That’s cause those were all mailed out of Sac.
I’ve had many black plate cars but only one corresponded to the list, it was a 58 bus sold in Escondido and the black plate was issued at the Escondido DMV in 63 so the owner must have went in to get them. Otherwise I guess they mailed them out like previously mentioned. _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1973 Ghia convertible |
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Jere Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2004 Posts: 57 Location: Hydesville, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Quote: |
That’s cause those were all mailed out of Sac. |
So someone could have bought it anywhere in California since plates were mailed out of Sac. That brings me back to the DMV and registration. Their data base surely shows where a VIN was registered. From there I could narrow it down to known dealers at that time (Dealer list from John M. _________________ 1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1967 VW Beetle Convertible
1968 Karmann Ghia Convertible |
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VeloMikey Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2012 Posts: 646 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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Jere wrote: |
Quote: |
That’s cause those were all mailed out of Sac. |
So someone could have bought it anywhere in California since plates were mailed out of Sac. That brings me back to the DMV and registration. Their data base surely shows where a VIN was registered. From there I could narrow it down to known dealers at that time (Dealer list from John M. |
I think you are giving the DMV too much credit! Their goal is not to help you, know anything or keep track of anything.
John, the YOM yellow with black characters were used form 56-63 when they changed the format to 6x12". Here is a good link that explains how that era worked http://www.oldplateguy.com/YOM-Information-for-1956-to-1962-California-Vehicles.html _________________ '58 Ghia 2387cc with a Berg / Folts 5 Speed
Ghia Build Thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768748 |
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rcooled Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008 Posts: 2491 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Karmann Ghia California Black Plate Where Issued |
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John Moxon wrote: |
Not to derail the OG question why were the Yellow and Black plates on my '58 marked '56? |
That style of plate was first issued in 1956 and every plate had that year permanently stamped into it. A metal tab with the current year was fastened over the '56' each time the registration was renewed.
That stamp continued with the Blk/Yel plates that followed...they all had '63' stamped in the right-side sticker well. No stamp on the Blu/Yel plates that began in 1970, or on any year after that. _________________ '63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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